Trouble-detector for spark-plugs.



G. M. BEARD.

TROUBLE DETECTOR FOR SPARK PLUGS.

APPLlCATION FILED APR. 3 19m 1, 1 38,441 lutvnted May 4, 1915 Attorneys GEORGE M. BEARD, 0F PLEASANT LAKE, INDIANA.

TROUBLE-DETECTOR FOR SPARK-PLUGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4-, 1915.

Application filed April 3, 1914. Serial N 0. 829,357.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon M. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pleasant Lake, in the county of Steuben and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful 'lroubleDetector for Spark-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a trouble detector for use in connection with the spark plugs of hydro-carbon engines.

It is a Well known fact that it is a dillicult matter, when an engine is missing fire, to quickly locate the trouble. It is impossible for an eXpert to te l which plug is not Working, without subjecting the plugs to tests.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient device which can be attached readily to a hydrocarbon engine and which, when in use, Will show accurately whether or not the plug in each cylinder is operating properly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made'within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawingsz-Figure 1 is a view showing, in diagram, the attachment and its connections with a motor. Fig. 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of the attachment, the same being shown, by full lines, in testing position. Fig. 3 is a section on line AB Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of attachment. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a circular base having a central boss 2 countersunk in the bottom thereof as at 3. A central opening 4 is formed in the boss and mounted for rotation within this opening is a stem 5. A disk 6 is located within the counterbore 3 and is loosely mounted on stem 5, said disk bein held on the stem by a nut 7. which engages the stem. A spring washer 8 is interposed between disk 6 and the inner end of the counterbore 3. A star wheel is screwed onto the stem 5 and is held against the boss 2 by the spring washer 8. A jam nut 10 engages the stem 5 and bears against the star wheel 9. A knob 11 is located at the outer end of the stem 5 and by means thereof the said stem can be rotated readily. An opening 12 is formed in the disk 6 and receives a pin 13 whereby rotation of the disk is limited. The spring washer 8 not only serves to hold the star wheel 9 clamped against the boss 2 but also serves to press the disk 6 outwardly into lntimate contact with the nut 7 so that'an electrical connection is thus maintained between stem 5 and disk 6. By clamping the star wheel 9 against the boss 2, the said star wheel will be held frictionally into any position to which it may be rotated.

A circular flange 14 extends from the base 1 and secured within this flange is a series of contact points 15, one of these being provided for each cylinder of the engine with which the device is to be used. Each contact has a binding post 16. Flange 14 constitutes a support for a transparent disk 17 and a cap 18 may beused for engaging this disk and for engaging the peripheral portion of the base 1. This cap is preferably provided with a central opening 19 and around this opening are arranged numerals, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these numerals representing the cylinders of the engine. Cap 18 is held in place by means of one or more screws 20 extending therethrough and into the base 1. A stop pin 21 extends from the boss 2 and between two of the lingers of the star Wheel 9 and constitutes means for limiting the rotation of the star wheel.

In using the device herein described, each of the binding posts 16-is electrically connected to the binding post 22 of a spark plug, the electrical connection 23 from binding post -1 extending to the spark plug of cylinder 1 while theconnection 23 of binding post indicated by the numeral-2, extends to the spark plug of cylinder 2. This arrangement is followed throughout the structure. The disk 6 is grounded to the engine, as by means of a wire 24 secured at one end to the disk and at its other end to the engine. In Fig. 1 the engine has been indicated at E, the timer at T, and the source of electrical energy at X. The timer is electrically connected to the spark plug as ordinarily and is also connected in the usual or any preferred manner to the source X and to the engine.

As shown in Fig. 2, the points or contacts 15 are adjusted so that'gaps are formed between them and the fingers of the star wheel 9 when star wheel is moved to active position as indicated by full lines in Fig. 2. This gap is greater than that between the points of the spark plug so that, during the operation of the engine, the spark plugs will operate as ordinarily, the resistance offered by the gaps between the star wheel 9 and the points or contacts 15 being greater than that between the points of the spark plug. Thus it will be seen that, while the spark plugs are properly working, the star wheel 9 can be rotated to the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 2 and no spark will be produced within any of the gaps. If, however, one of the spark plugs should fail to work properly, the current will be shunted to the pointer contact l5'connected to said spark plug and will jump the gap to the adjacent finger of the star wheel 9 and this spark will indicate accurately in which cylinder the trouble lis located. It is tobe understood of course that the star wheel need not be turned to the position shown b full lines in Fig. 2 until trouble arises we the engine. The said star wheel under nbifinaibofiditions can occupy the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. As soon-. as4lieengine'begins to miss fire, howe ver, thestaiwheel 9 can be rotated by means-bfihe knob 11, this rotation being tbfi'pin 21 and as the finger-sci the star wheel'are thus brought direc ly opposite, the respective points or contacts 15,, it canbeqnick 7 determined, by oliservingimhether} or not sparks jump one or more the gaps, iflfWhlCh c linder the trouble is If no, spar are'pro- ,duced. in the attachmentunder these conditions, it will be apparent that the trouble is not with the spark plug but occurs at some other point withintheengine.

The dpvice constitutin the present-inven tion can, be set up on tie dashboard of a 'motor vehicle where. it can be conveniently reached and observed.

Instead of utilizing a star wheel as hereinbefore described, a disk 25 can be secured to the stem 5, as shown in Fig. 4 and the ground wire 24 can be secured to a guide 26 secured to the base of the attachment. A disk 12 can be secured to the'back portion of the stem 5 and a slide 27 of conductive material is mounted in-the guide .26 and is adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with the disk 12. Under normal conditions the circuit is broken by shifting the slide 27 away from the disk 12.. When, however, it is desired to test the spark plug,

it is merely necessary. to shift the slide 27 I into engagement with the disk 12' whereupon should one or more of the spark plugs plugs, said central be out of order, sparks will be caused to jump the gap between the disk 25 and those points 15 connected to the spark plugs which are not working.

What is claimed is 1. A trouble detector for spark plugs including a central member of conductive material, points arranged about said member and spaced therefrom, means for electrically connecting the points to the respective spark member being adapted to be grounded to the engine, the gap between the said central'member and the points being greater than that between the points of the spark plugs.

2. An attachment for spark plugs of hydrocarbon engines, including a central member of conductive material, spaced oints arranged therearound and spaced t erefrom, there being normally gaps between the points and central memberslightly greater than the gap between the points of the spark plugs, means for respective points of the attachmentto the corresponding spark plugs, means for grounding the central member to the engine, and means adjacent the points of the taclunent for indicating the plugs to whi h the points are connected.

3. An attachment .for spark plugs of by drocarbon engines, including a central member of conductive material,'spaced points arranged therearound and spaced therefrom, there being normally gaps between the points and central member slightly greater than the gap between'the points of the spark plugs, means or electrically connecting the respectivepoints of the attachment to the corresponding spark plugs, means for grounding the central member to the engine, and means for placing the central Ir-smber in and out of active cooperation with the points.

4. A trouble detector for the spark plugs of ex losive engines, including a central electrically connecting the revolu le member, points arranged there- 4 around and adapted to be electrically connected to the respective spark plugs, means.

my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature inthepresence of two witnesses. 1 GEORGE M. BE RD.

Witnesses:

L m 13.3mm,

BEARD. 

